Heel plate for skiing



May 10, 1938. G. J. CYR, JR 2,116,969

HEEL PLATE FOR SKIING Filed Feb. 16, 1957 Patented May 10, 1938 f PATENT OFFICE Y aliases v rta'rn roasxnnd t t hi. Ma chester, N n.

- ApplicationFebruaryl6,193'fh8erialNo.l26,il60 t t maim wrgsnzg, l p

The invention relatesto a heel plate that may bestamped of sheet aluminum, sheet zincgshee'tj steel, sheet steel alloy or anyoth'er sheet metal or alloy, :leather "or whatever fabric or composition may be found suitable for a stamped heel plate or which may be cast out of any of the above described metals or any fabric or any plastic composition suitable for a cast heel plate. The purpose of the heel plate is to provide a means of enabling ordinary low hitch ski bindings not only to hold the ski to the ski boot but to keep the heel of the ski boot bound down to the ski. This is accomplished by providing a concave groove in the heel plate on the counter of the boot and at a point one-half inch or more higher up than the usual concave groove in the heel of the conventional ski boot. Thus, with the same harness and ski boots two or more optional positions for the adjustment of ski bindings, springs, straps or cables or other bindings are possible. The placing of the ski bindings in the upper groove increases the tension of the diagonal pull of the boot toward the ski and thus holds the heel more firmly on the ski.

the boot. I Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the attachment plate per se.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 through the plane 3-4 thereof.

In accordance with the invention and the preferred form thereof shown in the drawing, numeral It indicates the ordinary ski boot secured to a conventional ski II and is provided with a ski binding l2 of any known variety engaging a guide or groove on a heel plate mounted to the heel portion of the boot Hi. The said heel plate is preferably comprised of a counter member having side walls It connected by a rear wall IS, the upper edges of the said side walls preferably tapering upwardly toward the upper edge of the rear wall. A protrusion I6 is secured to or formed on the outer surface of the counter member to engage ski binding l2 whereby the said ski binding is directed and maintained in an groove 20 is elevated above angular position relative to the plane of ski Thesaid protrusion It forms the equivalent of a groove 20 infas soclation'with the counter mem-'' ber and is preferably disposed along the outer surface of the walls of the counter member at an angle such that the rear region of the formed the plane of grooved heel 2i.

An inwardly turned attaching flange I'I extends off the lower edges of the walls of the counter member and is provided with a cross member I8 secured across the forward ends of the flange ll. Thus flange i1 and cross member i8 assume the contour of the lower side of boot heel 2|. Moreover, flange H is provided with a group of openings IQ for suitably securing the heel plate to the ski boot Ill.

The heel plate above described may be built into ski boot ill while in the process of manufacture by inserting the heel plate between the heel seat or sole 22 and the upper of the boot and fastening the plate to the upper by any means such as screws, nails, rivets, burrs, plastic or cement. To apply the heel plate to an already manufactured ski boot, heel 2| is removed and the attaching flange i1 and cross member iii are secured to the sole 22 of boot ill by screws, nails. rivets, burrs, plastic or cement. Thereafter heel 2| is refastened to the sole 22. Inorder to mount the heel plate directly on the heel of a ski boot, the plate is merely fitted thereover and secured in place by any of the means known in the art.

It is understood that the heel plate may be made in all styles and sizes corresponding to the size and make of the ski boots and that other minor variations in material, shape and size of the parts, integration and location thereof may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A heel plate for the heel portion of a ski boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member engaging the counter portion of the ski boot, the said counter member having inclined guiding means to engage the ski binding and an inwardly turned flange for securing the plate to the heel of the boot.

2. A heel plate for the heel portion of a ski boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member engaging the counter portion of the ski boot, the said counter member having guiding means to engage the ski binding at an angle, and an attaching flange ailixed to the boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member engaging the counter portion of the ski boot, the said counter member having peripheral guiding means to engage the ski binding at an angle, and an attaching member for securing the plate beneath the heel of the boot.

5. A heel plate for the heel portion of a ski boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member having side and rear walls tapering upwardly and rearwardly, the said counter member fitting the counter of the shoe,

peripheral guiding means on the said rear and side walls angularly disposed to engage the ski binding, and an attaching flange afllxed to the counter for securing the plate to the heel of the boot.

6. A heel plate for the heel portion oi a ski boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member engaging the counter portion of the ski boot, the'said counter member having peripheral guiding means to engage the ski binding at an angle, the highest point of the said guiding means being above the sole portion of the boot, and an attaching member for securing the plate between the heel seat of the sole and the heel oi. the boot.

7. A heel plate for the heel portion of a ski boot to engage a ski binding thereat comprising a counter member engaging the counter portion of the ski boot, the said counter member having peripheral guiding means to engage the ski binding at an angle, the highest point of the said guiding means being above the sole portion of the boot, and an attaching flange aflixed to the counter for securing the plate to the heel of the boot.

GEORGE J. CYR, JR. 

